Daren: good point about the feeling of focusing energy via the stance. I feel a clear focus of energy from my center to uke's center when the foot is pointing forward. It seems less focused when the front foot is pointing at an angle.

Alejandro: I hadn't heard the term "kenkagoshi" before. It was never used in Iwama - but I understand the term by its roots - kenka and koshi! I understand that in some places the slightly forward leaning stance is considered aggressive (and thereby non-aikido-like?). To me this stance just feels energized. Saito Sensei was always in a stance where he was slightly forward but always in a position where he could move in any direction directly from that position - energized and mobile.
In aiki,
Ethan Weisgard